The Effect of Ribavirin on Bone
Density in Children with Chronic Hepatitis C Treated with Interferon-Ribavirin

The objective of the present study, conducted in Turkey, was to investigate
the effects of ribavirin on bone mineral metabolism in patients with chronic
hepatitis C who had been treated with interferon and ribavirin.

Twenty patients (3 female, 17 male) with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled.
Age range was 6 to 15 years.

Bone mineral density, z-scores and biochemical bone markers were evaluated
in both groups before and after treatment.

Results

There were no significant differences between the groups in age or
gender.

Mean lumbar vertebral bone mineral density and mean z-scores in groups
1 and 2 before and after treatment were not significantly different.

In both groups, serum and urinary biochemical values and bone markers
were all normal and there were no differences between the pre-treatment
and post-treatment values.

The authors conclude, Contrary to studies in adults, we did not
find any ribavirin-dependent changes related to bone mineral metabolism
in our pediatric study groups.

Further studies are needed to obtain more detailed information
about the effects of ribavirin on bone mineral density.

N Urganci and others. The Effect of Ribavirin on Bone Density in Children
with Chronic Hepatitis C Treated with Interferon-Ribavirin Therapy. Journal
of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 41(5): 650-652. November 2005.